Jaren Hall, a former starting quarterback for BYU football, has announced his retirement from football via his Instagram account.
Former Vikings QB Jaren Hall has announced his retirement via Instagram. pic.twitter.com/05iHCUcs0Q
— Jason Harmon (@JasonHarmonNFL) May 13, 2026
Jaren was a lot of things for BYU. As the heir to Zach Wilson's starting slot, Hall filled in as the starter for both the program's final seasons of independence, laying the groundwork for the program's transition into the power conference tier of college football. As the first African-American quarterback in the program's storied QB history, he blazed the path for countless who will no doubt follow in his footsteps.
"Sports have been woven into nearly every part of my life," Hall reminisced. "They’ve challenged me, humbled me, shaped my faith, introduced me to lifelong friendships, and given me experiences I never could have imagined. From growing up in this community, to representing my hometown, to having the opportunity to play in the NFL, it has all been a blessing."
In step with Wilson, his predecessor, Hall declared for the NFL Draft following his junior year at BYU. After being selected in the 5th round by the Minnesota Vikings, he made limited starting appearances to poor results in the NFL before assuming a role with Seattle's practice squad, then a stint in Birmingham with the UFL.
Hall threw for 3,171 yards in his final year at BYU.
He'll forever be remembered as the quarterback who snapped Utah's 9-game Holy War winning streak, setting the ball rolling for what's now a three-game BYU swing in the historic rivalry.
But his greatest performance and most memorable moment with the Cougars has to be when the ninth-ranked Baylor Bears stepped onto the field at LaVell Edwards Stadium and clashed with the Cougars in a nighttime Vampire Cougs classic, where BYU held on to win 26-20 in double-overtime.
I was in attendance, clinging to sanity in the ROC student section for that battle against Blake Shapen and the Dave Aranda-led Bears. As the sure-footed Jake Oldroyd's confidence crumbled with miss after miss in game-winning opportunities, Hall led the charge and punched the Cougars ahead in the second overtime period.
When Baylor was unable to match BYU's opening score, the camera panned to Hall who, in a pure display of leadership, embraced his kicker and reveled in the full team effort to take down a top-10 team at home.
Growing up in Springville, Utah, I'm very familiar with the Hall family, who hails from neighboring Mapleton. Maple Mountain High School and Springville High School are bitter rivals on the gridiron, and it was satisfying to watch as Jaren transitioned from being a quarterback I cheered against to the leader of my favorite team.
Sure, his NFL career flamed out, but I'll always remember the steps he took and the leadership he displayed as he led Aaron Roderick's offense into the program we know today.
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